‘I will live for Benfica’ – Jose Mourinho’s promise after returning to Portuguese club for second spell | OneFootball

Jose Mourinho says it is a “tremendous honour” to manage Benfica after being appointed their new head coach, 25 years on from his first spell at the club.

The 62-year-old was announced as head coach after the Eagles decided to part company with Bruno Lage following a disastrous 3-2 defeat in their Champions League opener against Azerbaijani side Qarabag. Lage, who leaves the club in sixth place in Liga Portugal and five points behind leaders Porto, departs after just over a year in charge.

Mourinho, who was sacked by Fenerbahce three weeks ago after failing to qualify for the Champions League courtesy of a play-off defeat to Benfica, returns to the club who gave him his debut as a manager 25-years-ago.

He has signed a two-year contract at the Lisbon club until the summer of 2027, with a break clause at the end of this season.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United boss spoke about the magnitude of managing the Portuguese giants, whilst thanking the club for putting their belief in him.

“So many emotions, but experience helps to control them,” Mourinho said. “I want to thank the club for the trust.

“Being Portuguese, of course there isn’t a single one of us who doesn’t know the history, the culture of Benfica’s nation and of this club, but I want to make it clear that I have to be able to block out all these emotions and look at Benfica in a very simple way.

“I am the coach of one of the biggest clubs in the world!

“It’s been 25 years, but I haven’t come here to celebrate a career. It’s been 25 years in which I’ve had the chance to work at the biggest clubs in the world.

“I want to tell you (president Rui Costa), as the representative of the Benfica fans, that none of the clubs I’ve had the privilege to coach have ever made me feel more motivated than being coach of Benfica.

“The promise is clear: I will live for Benfica, for my mission. I left home and said, ‘see you Sunday.’ It is a tremendous honour.”

Mourinho’s first game in charge of Benfica will be next Saturday against AVS SAD, with his first match in the Champions League seeing him return to Stamford Bridge to face former club Chelsea on September 30th in his fourth game.